OVER recent weeks I have heard and read many comments regarding the closure of care homes in County Durham.

While I fully understand and sympathise with the anguish of those affected, it is the way Durham County Council has smoothly mouthed its way around the cause for this action – cuts by central Government – that is disingenuous and misleading.

On no occasion has there been an admission of the management’s failure to run this vital service for the elderly and infirm in an effective way.

Officers and politicians are equally to blame.

The recently announced closures are rooted in the past, certainly way before 2009 when Durham County Council first “consulted” on closures.

At that juncture, according to a cabinet paper, it needed to spend £39m updating its homes to meet registration standards.

This speaks volumes of about past policy and management of residential care.

It was clearly stated in 2009 that the cost of providing care in council-managed homes was 62 per cent higher than it could purchase care from the private sector – £723 against £446: hence a reasonable management decision was made to “abandon the field of play”.

Deciding to keep five homes open with a total of 49 residents employing 170 staff, has only served to increase costs to £900- plus per resident, further exacerbating the situation and reflecting adversely on management performance.

In the private sector, homes inspected by the council employ around 40 staff to care for 50 residents and make a modest profit. The recent announcement of further closure was as inevitable as night follows day.

Delaying closure by pretence of consultation and consideration only gave false hope to those affected and served to further reduce confidence in those involved.

Name and address supplied.